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Alicia Cox Thomson

Alicia Cox Thomson is a digital media
consultant and PR professional with a passion for all things pretty and
creative. Some of her favourites include the city of Barcelona, costume designer
Edith Head, butcher block countertops and the colour orange.

Top 5 Friday: Fall Fashion Trends For Your Home

The upcoming release of the behind-the-scenes-at-Vogue documentary, The September Issue, (watch the trailer!) is causing quite the frisson of excitement around these parts. Home decor and fashion go hand in hand and I've been stocking up on the September issues of fashion and shelter mags with plans to devour them all in one lovely Sunday swoop. So with that in mind, this week's Top 5 Friday reveals some of the top fashion trends translated into ideas for your home.

Prada's lace-laden fall '08 collection plus the nude palettes from spring/summer '09 results in a mishmash of lingerie-inspired fall fashions with a distinct boudoir feel. Make this work in your home with pale shades, delicate edging, sheer fabrics and accessories like plump tassels and crystal doorknobs. My picks? Anthropologie's Isola Bella bathmat and towels will add a girlish kick to the bathroom, while Umbra's gorgeous and tactile Rustle wallpaper in bronze has a pinkish hue that will flatter any skintone.

Sharp shoulders, detailed cuffs (the baseboards of pants) and defined pleats are still on the runways for fall and it's one trend that translates to your home pretty easily. Look for clean lines and angles, strong shapes and architectural details like decorative moulding, trims and mirrors (to mimic the sheen of skyscraper windows). My picks? Crate and Barrel's Aerin floor lamp seen in the corner of the photo above (top left) is sophisticated and classic, while West Elm's Cadman Spine bookcase allows your inner Howard Roark to build up with books.

Yep, it's the decade that won't go away - and why should it? Not all 80s fashions were horrendous (see Baby Boom for the best office wear ever) and the exuberant confidence of that money-flush decade translates into fashion fun and a sense of humour in the home. Look for brightly coloured accessories with a youthful, punky vibe - think over-the-top pop and acid-washed inspired prints. It's the perfect accent to add to kids' rooms or a home office. My picks? Clocky by Nanda not only wakes you up, but runs around the room so you have to get up to chase it - love! And this pillow by Etsy vendor missmosh screams back to school circa 1987. Something about the grey and pinks and the heart motif makes me nostalgic for note-passing and cootie-shots.

Fashion has always pushed the gender boundaries and this season is no different. Men's suiting, pin-stripes, tweed and waistcoats were all spotted on the runway. Look for classic patterns like houndstooth, metallics like brushed nickel and silver and dark palettes including black and grey (big colour this year). My picks? PC Home's Sutton sheet set has a guy-friendly geometric pattern that the ladies will love, too, and a pair of Ikea's Böja lamps in black would make sexy bedside table lights.

You can't have fall without sweaters! This season, knits are chunkier and more substantial, all the better for wiling away hours curled up in front of a fire. Look for classic shades of grey, oatmeal and cream, thick cables and high quality materials. My picks? Lutz & Patmos Honeycomb pillow covers and throw from West Elm are hand-knit from a super-soft acrylic and wool blend. Or, try your hand at knitting your own afghan or throw. A quick Google search will result in an abundance of patterns for any skill set.